asked the Minister for Labour if he has made representations to CERT requesting that they would build their headquarters in Dublin city.

Prior to my appointment as Minister for Labour in March 1987, CERT had been seeking a suitable location in Dublin city for a new headquarters incorporating training facilities.

I indicated to CERT in November 1987 that I would not favour the existing Roebuck centre site in Dublin as the location for the new development and asked that CERT explore the following alternatives:

(i) locating the development in the inner city, and close to the Custom House Docks project,

(ii) siting the training facility in an AnCO training centre or the whole development in the grounds of one of their centres.

CERT subsequently decided on a site in Amiens Street, Dublin, which they have now purchased. Such a central location has obvious attractions from the point of view of bus and train routes as against a less central location like Roebuck.

I welcome CERT's decision and I am pressing CERT to commence construction as a matter of urgency. The new building will be funded through the sale of existing buildings in the ownership of CERT and through Exchequer and European Regional Fund grants.

Apart from the Minister's gratification at having it located near his own area, may I ask him, in view of the Government's stated policy on decentralisation, if he would agree that the opportunity was lost to have it located outside of Dublin and that this runs contrary to the Government's policy on decentralisation?

It is not all that long ago, Deputy, when you were mayor of the second city that you and I——

Lord Mayor.

I am sorry. It is not all that long ago when the Deputy and I jointly opened a major centre in his city which I believe is going very well.

We are thankful for small mercies.